DISClaimer Single Reviews: Unearthed Johnny Cash Track Is ‘Hearty And Satisfying’

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Johnny Cash at Cash Cabin in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Photo: Alan Messer

It’s Ladies Day here at DISClaimer.

Leading the pack in this stack of sounds are Clare Dunn, Tiera Kennedy, Kylie Frey and Chapel Hart. They have the discs to beat.

But let’s be honest. Does anyone ever top The Man in Black? Johnny Cash wins the Disc of the Day prize.

The DISCovery Award goes to a hip-hop artist whose new music is veering into country music territory. That’s Virginia-born Shaboozey, who is gearing up for the release next month of an album titled Where I’ve Been Isn’t Where I’m Going.

DYLAN GOSSETT / “Somewhere Between”
Writer: Dylan Gossett; Producer: Eddie Spear; Label: Big Loud Texas/Mercury Records/Republic Records
– It’s a rumbling, riding-the-rails song with poetic images that pile up on each other but go nowhere. The Texan sings at the top of his range. He made some noise with a tune called “Coal” last year. This seems unlikely to duplicate that.

ZAC BROWN BAND & MAC MCANALLY / “Pirates & Parrots”
Writers: Andy Sheridan/Ben Simonetti/Drew Parker/Erik Dylan/Jonathan Singleton/Wyatt McCubbin/Zac Brown; Producers: Ben Simonetti/Zac Brown; Label: Home Grown Music/Warner Music Nashville
– This is eloquently sweet and touching as a eulogy for the departed Jimmy Buffett. It’s a dear farewell to a widely beloved music legend, and it hits an emotional bullseye. Strings sigh as the singers harmonize on the island vibe. “Adios, my friend/Anchor where that ocean ends/We’ll pick up where you left off/Strumming on a sailor’s song.”

KARLEY SCOTT COLLINS & CHARLES KELLEY / “How Do You Do That”
Writers: Karley Scott Collins/Tom Jordan/Charles Kelley/Jordan Reynolds; Producers: Nathan Chapman/Karley Scott Collins; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– Love her husky vocal and his pitch-perfect harmony work. Not crazy about the song or the too-busy, heavily electronic production.

JOHNNY CASH / “Well Alright”
Writer: Johnny Cash; Producers: Johnny Cash/John Carter Cash/David Ferguson/Josh Matas/Mike Daniel; Label: Mercury
– I’m really excited about the upcoming Cash album Songwriter (due June 28). It is comprised of 1993 song demos by the legend. He was in fine voice, and it has been surrounded by newly recorded, brilliant production by his talented son and his longtime studio confederate “Fergie” Ferguson. This advanced taste is a light-hearted ditty about finding love in a laundromat. The band, featuring Marty Stuart, kicks up some rockabilly stardust that echoes Cash’s early Sun singles. Hearty and satisfying.

SHABOOZEY / “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
Writers: Collins Obinna Chibueze/Jerrel Jones/Joe Kent/Mark Williams/Nevin Sastry/Sean Cook; Producers: Sean Cook/Nevin Sastry; Label: American Dogwood/EMPIRE
– Guitar strums, hand claps, sing-along guys and a little whistling carry this jaunty, good-time, rhythm-happy drinking song. It quotes a little from the 2004 pop hit “Tipsy” by St. Louis hip-hopper J-Kwon. Shaboozey is a Nigerian American whose billing is derived from people mispronouncing his last name. You can also find him on two tracks on the Beyoncé album.

CHAPEL HART / “Perfect For Me”
Writers: Danica Hart/Devynn Hart/Trea Swindle/Leslie Satcher; Producers: none listed; Label: CH
– The America’s Got Talent trio just seems to go from strength to strength. Chapel Hart performs this dandy, blue-collar romance track with vim and verve. Taken from its Glory Days collection, the group showcased it at the 10th anniversary celebration of CMT’s Next Women of Country franchise this week at City Winery. I just love these gals.

LANCE COWAN / “This Heart of Mine”
Writer: Lance Cowan; Producers: Jason Stelluto/Scott Paschall; Label: Lantzapalooza Müzik
– This gentle, lovelorn ballad has a lovely, folkie quality. The single is drawn from an excellent, melody-rich album titled So Far So Good. Known for decades on Music Row as a publicist, Cowan is also a superb troubadour tunesmith. Start with this, then explore the many other fine audio textures on the collection.

HARDY / “Gin and Juice”
Writers: André Romell Young/Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr./Daniel Webster/Harry Wayne Casey/Mark Adams/Raymond Guy Turner/Richard Finch/Stephen Washington/Steve Arrington; Producers: Joey Moi/Hardy; Label: Big Loud Records
– Our own Hardy was tapped by Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre to re-imagine their 1994 Snoop hit to accompany the launch of a beverage named for it. The bouncy ditty threads the line between hillbilly and hip-hop.
TIERA KENNEDY / “I Ain’t A Cowgirl”
Writers: Tiera Kennedy/David Devaul/Joe Fox/Cameron Bedell; Producer: Cameron Bedell; Label: TK
– Her soft soprano begins this wistful meditation with simple acoustic-guitar accompaniment. Steel and strings quietly enter, backing her romantic musing as the track wafts along. Gorgeous, soothing listening. Kennedy’s profile got a bump up when she sang on “Blackbiird” with Beyoncé this month.
CLARE DUNN / “Wasn’t Looking”
Writers: Clare Dunn/Jeff Trott; Producer: Jeff Trott; Label: CD
– The title tune of Dunn’s new EP is a crunchy bopper with stacked vocal harmonies and irresistibly catchy hooks. Her throaty alto is a voice to cherish. She has been on the Nashville scene for a decade, but to date, the industry has not given this talented woman her due. Wake up, people.
DARRYL WORLEY, CHRIS JANSON & JUSTIN MOORE / “Tractor Time”
Writers: Darryl Worley/Phil O’Donnell; Producer: Phil O’Donnell; Label: The Valory Music Co.
– Here’s a summer anthem. Worley’s been working hard, and now it’s time for some relaxation. That means driving in circles out in the field, dontcha know. Each to his own therapy.
KYLIE FREY / “So You Think You Want A Cowboy”
Writers: Adam Wright/Kylie Frey/Neal Coty; Producers: Trent Willmon/Paul Worleyl; Label: Deep Frey’d Music
– This sprightly Texas two-stepper is a cautionary tune to the ladies. “You think you want a cowboy/Until you get a cowboy.” She’s hip to his heartbreaking ways. “If you’re lucky enough some day/He’s gonna saddle up and ride away.” Dancefloor ready.

Application Deadline Approaching For MusicRow’s 2024 Artist Roster Issue

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Applications for MusicRow‘s upcoming Artist Roster print issue close TOMORROW (April 26). Previously included companies have been solicited separately.

This ultimate artist resource edition includes the Artist Roster company directory, featuring contact information and artist rosters for Nashville record labels, managers, publicists, lawyers, talent agents, publicity, artist services companies (business managers, digital music, legal, marketing, radio promotion and organizations), media and banking.

Click here to access the Artist Roster application.

For advertising opportunities in the Artist Roster issue, email Sherod Robertson at srobertson@musicrow.com. Rate card information is available here. For questions regarding the directory, email directory@musicrow.com.

JUST IN: Reba McEntire To Host The 59th ACM Awards

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Reba McEntire will host the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 16 at 7 p.m. CT. The show will stream live exclusively for a global audience on Prime Video from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

2024’s show will mark the 17th time McEntire has served as host. The 16-time ACM Award winner is also set to perform brand new music.

“I am tickled to pieces to get to host the ACM Awards for the 17th time!” shares McEntire. “What an honor to have been part of the past, present and now the future of the Academy of Country Music with Amazon Prime Video. I can’t wait to get to Texas and see everybody May 16th!”

“We are thrilled for the homecoming of Reba to the ACM Awards stage for the 17th time! There is simply no one better to continue to elevate this show in our new global streaming era with Amazon Prime Video,” says ACM CEO Damon Whiteside. “No one has a deeper and richer history with the Academy than Reba, from her many years hosting the ACM Awards, and from her 16 ACM Awards wins including Entertainer of the Year and two ACM anniversary Milestone Awards. With exciting new music coming, extensive television presence and a worldwide fanbase, Reba’s back and better than ever!”

A limited number of tickets for the 59th ACM Awards are available for purchase on SeatGeek. Click here to see the nominees for the 2024 ACM Awards.

MusicRow Magazine’s Sherod Robertson Honored With NSAI Champion Award

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MusicRow Owner/Publisher Sherod Robertson is presented with the Champion’s Award by NSAI and Bart Herbison. Photo: Courtesy of NSAI

At their annual “World’s Largest No. 1 Party” on Tuesday (April 23), the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) gave MusicRow Magazine Owner/Publisher Sherod Robertson the Champion Award. The honor goes to a person who shows unwavering support of songwriters, and for acting as a champion for the music industry as a whole.

When presenting the award, NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison shared, “Sherod Robertson and MusicRow are champions and appropriately deserve the ‘NSAI Champion Award.’ The Nashville music industry is lucky to have MusicRow and its associated publications. But we are also blessed that Sherod and his team have championed songwriters, females in the industry, and do amazing work on a daily basis.”

Robertson acquired MusicRow Magazine in 2010. The publication was started as a one-page contact directory for the Nashville music industry in 1981 by David M. Ross. Now, more than 40 years later, MusicRow continues as Nashville’s foremost music industry trade publication.

“I’m grateful to Bart Herbison and NSAI for their recognition of MusicRow Magazine and what we strive to do every day: champion and serve the Nashville music industry, particularly the songwriters and publishing community. I am honored to be a steward of that mission,” Robertson shares.

Known for its candid voice and accuracy, music executives and industry members rely on the outlet for exclusive reviews, breaking news and in-depth coverage. MusicRow delivers six print magazines per year to members. Among these are the valuable directory issues: InCharge, Artist Roster, Publisher Issue and Touring & Next Big Thing Issue. Music Row Enterprises is home to other industry-related products, including song pitch sheet RowFax, the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart and the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. The company also produces the annual Rising Women on the Row honors, as well as the virtual MusicRow Awards and CountryBreakout Awards.

MusicRow Releases 2024 InCharge Issue, Kelsea Ballerini Graces The Cover

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MusicRow, Nashville’s leading music industry trade publication, is proud to announce the 2024 release of its flagship print directory, InCharge.

This annual guide highlights some of the most influential industry executives in the Nashville music business. This year’s edition includes 374 profiles which are accompanied by contact information, career biographies and detailed board and organizational membership affiliations.

The guide also includes a record label staff index, a company appendix and a professional categories appendix, which lists executives by their areas of expertise, including label, talent agency, management, music publishing, legal, finance, performing rights organizations and more.

“In the tightly-knit community of the Nashville music industry, those who wear various hats are deeply appreciated for their expertise and experience. With decades of collective experience and with leadership that represents and guides many other team members in the industry, these individuals have played a central role in shaping and preserving the city’s most valued export,” says MusicRow Owner/Publisher, Sherod Robertson. “Within these pages, you’ll find a celebration of our industry champions, each of whom has rightfully earned the esteemed title of InCharge.”

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Kelsea Ballerini graces the cover of the 2024 InCharge issue.

Black River’s Kelsea Ballerini consistently makes history. With the release of her debut album, The First Time, she became the only female country artist to hit No. 1 with the first three consecutive singles from a debut album. Since then, she’s notched seven No. 1 singles and five back-to-back top 10 entries on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.

Among dozens of accolades, she’s garnered four Grammy Award nominations, won two ACM Awards, Billboard Awards and CMA Awards; an iHeartRadio Music Awards honor and received multiple career nominations from the ACM, CMA, Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards, CMT and People’s Choice Awards. Notably, she snagged her first nomination as an artist/producer for the ACM Awards’ Music Event of the Year in 2022 for “Half Of My Hometown.”

Ballerini recently returned to host the 2024 CMT Music Awards for the fourth year, this time as a solo host, and led the field in nominations. The Grand Ole Opry member was named the newest face of COVERGIRL in 2022 and later built on her multi-year partnership by launching a cosmetic collaboration with the brand. Expanding her sphere of influence, she authored her first original poetry book, Feel Your Way Through, and Dolly Parton tapped her to star in the audiobook of Run, Rose, Run.

Ballerini’s fourth album, Subject To Change, was released in 2022. Five months later, she surprised fans with Rolling Up the Welcome Mat and the accompanying short film. This led to her Saturday Night Live debut, universal acclaim from critics including The New York Times, Variety and Rolling Stone, and the honor of gracing the cover of TIME Magazine’s TIME100 Next Gen issue. With these accolades, it is no wonder NPR proclaimed, “Kelsea Ballerini is definitely one of the most influential women in country right now…she’s defining the sound of the genre.”

Single copies of MusicRow’s 2024 InCharge issue are available for purchase at musicrow.com for $115, and are included with yearly MusicRow subscriptions.

MusicRow’s 2024 InCharge Issue, featuring Kelsea Ballerini. Photo: John Shearer

Miranda Lambert Signs A New Record Deal

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Pictured (L–R): Republic’s EVP & CFO Joe Schmidt, Founder & Vice Chairman Avery Lipman, President & COO Jim Roppo; Miranda Lambert; Republic’s Founder & Chairman Monte Lipman, Big Loud Records’ CEO Seth England. Photo: Julia Drummond

Miranda Lambert has signed a record deal with Republic Records in partnership with Big Loud, who will add support on country radio promotion as well as other marketing efforts. Her first release under the new deal will be the single “Wranglers,” arriving May 3.

“Miranda Lambert’s legacy as both a consummate storyteller and legendary performer speaks for itself. Her new music is spectacular and we are thrilled and honored to welcome her to Republic Records in partnership with Big Loud,” says Republic Founder and Chairman, Monte Lipman.

“We’re honored Miranda Lambert has entrusted us with this next chapter of her career,” adds Republic President and Chief Operating Officer, Jim Roppo. “As she puts the final touches on her fantastic new body of work, it has all the hallmarks of her signature sound, yet she continues to push herself as a songwriter, producer and performer. We’re all at the beginning of a very special moment, and we’re grateful to be on this journey with her.”

The label deal expands on Lambert’s relationship with Big Loud. Last November, she and Jon Randall partnered with Seth England and the company to launch the imprint Big Loud Texas.

“Being in Texas with Jon, recording where I cut my teeth as a young artist, felt like coming home. I thought about the women—and men—who’ve lived, loved and found power in my music, and I wanted to get back to the root of those spaces,” Lambert says. “Talking to Monte, Avery Lipman and the team at Republic, as well as Seth and the Big Loud folks who are leaning in, everyone understood my desires and vision for this next era of my music. Aligning like that is empowering; it gives you a license to really chase it. Signing with Republic has inspired me to find the sweet spot for me and all the people like me. I can’t wait for everyone to hear ‘Wranglers,’ and the rest of this record.”

“Wranglers” will mark Lambert’s first new solo music since 2022’s critically acclaimed, Grammy-, ACM- and CMA-nominated Palomino.

“‘Wranglers’ is a tale of a woman taking her power back,” shares the three-time Grammy winner. “I think we can all identify with the character in this song, because we have all had a time in our life that we needed to find a way to find our strength and also get a little revenge on someone that did us wrong or hurt us.”

Lambert will headline Stagecoach this weekend (April 27). She also recently announced a return to the road, including a three-night stand at New Braunfels, Texas’ iconic Whitewater Amphitheater, as well as concerts from coast to coast.

Jordan Minton Enters Top 10 On MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart

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Jordan Minton

Hit songwriter Jordan Minton has moved into the top 10 on this week’s MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart. “Bigger Houses,” “Dance With You,” “Love You, Miss You, Mean It” and “Your Place” all pushed Minton into the No. 8 spot.

Beyoncé remains in the No. 1 spot this week with “16 Carriages,” “Alliigator Tears,” “Ameriican Requiem,” “Daughter,” “Just For Fun,” “Levii’s Jeans,” “ll Most Wanted,” “My Rose,” “Protector,” “Riiverdance,” “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “Tyrant,” all off her Cowboy Carter album. Josh Phillips takes the No. 2 spot with “Dirt Cheap.”

Ashley Gorley (No. 3), Hunter Phelps (No. 4) and Jessie Jo Dillon (No. 5) round out this week’s top five.

The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.

Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.

ACM Radio Award Winners Revealed

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The winners of the ACM Radio Awards for the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards have been revealed. The announcement was made with the help of Danielle Bradbery, Breland, Ashley Cooke, Russell Dickerson, Lady A, Ashley McBryde, Parker McCollum, Megan Moroney, Conner Smith and Tigirlily Gold.

There were ties in two categories (Major Market On-Air Personality of the Year and Medium Market Radio Station of the Year) and multiple first-time honorees. In the On-Air categories, first-time winners include Katie Neal of Katie & Company for National Daily On-Air Personality of the Year, Annie Fox and Cole Dunbar of Annie & Cole for Large Market On-Air Personality of the Year and Doc Medek and Chewy Medek of The Doc Show for Medium Market On-Air Personality of the Year. Angie Ward of Angie Ward and Jason Pullman of The Jason Pullman Show—both first time winners—tied for Major Market On-Air Personality of the Year.

B-Dub of B-Dub Radio Saturday Night received his second ACM Award for National Weekly On-Air Personality of the Year, and Steve, Ben and Nikki of Steve, Ben and Nikki took home their second ACM Award for Small Market On-Air Personality of the Year.

In the Radio Station categories, WXTU in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania took home its second win for Major Market Radio Station of the Year, and WUBE in Cincinnati, Ohio took home its fourth win for Large Market Radio Station of the Year. WBEE in Rochester, New York and WGGY in Scranton, Pennsylvania both took home their first wins for Medium Market Radio Station of the Year (tie), and WFLS in Fredericksburg, Virginia took home its first win for Small Market Radio Station of the Year.

Below is a complete list of the Radio Award winners for the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards:

On-Air Personality Of The Year Winners:
National Daily: Katie Neal | Katie & Company
National Weekly: B-Dub | B-Dub Radio Saturday Night
Major Market (Tie): Angie Ward | Angie Ward – WUBL – Atlanta, GA & Jason Pullman | The Jason Pullman Show – KPLX – Dallas, TX
Large Market: Annie Fox and Cole Dunbar | Annie & Cole – WLHK – Indianapolis, IN
Medium Market: Doc Medek and Chewy Medek | The Doc Show – WGGY – Scranton, PA
Small Market: Steve, Ben, and Nikki | Steve, Ben and Nikki – WXBQ – Bristol, VA

Radio Station Of The Year Winners:
Major Market: WXTU – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Large Market: WUBE – Cincinnati, Ohio
Medium Market (Tie): WBEE – Rochester, New York AND WGGY – Scranton, Pennsylvania
Small Market: WFLS – Fredericksburg, Virginia

The 59th ACM Awards will take place Thursday, May 16 at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, and will steam exclusively on Amazon’s Prime Video. Click here for a list of nominees.

Scotty McCreery Officially Welcomed Into Opry Family

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Scotty McCreery being officially welcomed into the Grand Ole Opry family by Opry member Josh Turner who was joined by a surprise guest, Country Music Hall of Fame Member Randy Travis with wife Mary. Photo: Chris Hollo

Scotty McCreery was officially inducted into the Grand Ole Opry family on Saturday night (April 20) by Opry member Josh Turner and a special surprise guest, Country Music Hall of Famer and Opry member Randy Travis.

Pictured (L-R): Opry host Bill Cody; George Couri (Founder, Triple 8 Management and Founding Partner, Triple Tigers Records); Josh Turner; Randy Travis; Bill Anderson; Scotty McCreery; Scott Stem (McCreery’s manager, Triple 8 Management); Gina Keltner, Associate Producer, Talent, Grand Ole Opry and Dan Rogers, Sr Vice President/Executive Producer, Grand Ole Opry. Photo: Chris Hollo

McCreery performed his new single “Cab in a Solo,” “Fall of Summer” (from his upcoming album Rise and Fall) and Travis’ iconic “Three Wooden Crosses” before being joined onstage by Turner and Travis for the bucket list moment.

“I stand here tonight proud of the fact that I bridged the gap between the generation of Randy Travis and Scotty McCreery,” shared Turner. “Only time will tell who will be inspired by Scotty. Scotty is not only a fine singer and a songwriter, but he’s a great man, husband, and now father. I’m proud of him and I’m proud that he is filling the shoes of the artists before him. With artists like him, country music is in great shape.”

“If you’ve listened to any of my interviews over the last 15 years of doing this, they’d say, ‘what is your biggest goal?’ and I’d always say, ‘One day I wanna be a member of the Grand Ole Opry,’” shared McCreery. “I gotta go home and start writing a new bucket list.”

Scotty McCreery officially adds his plaque to the Opry member wall. Photo: Chris Hollo

Pointing to his 18-month-old son Avery in the audience and holding back tears, McCreery added, “He might not understand tonight but one day I’ll be able to tell him, ‘Hey buddy, this was your daddy’s dream and it came true.’”

McCreery capped the special night with a tender performance of his first No. 1, “Five More Minutes,” which he debuted on the Opry stage in 2016.

McCreery’s Opry induction and performance will air as a Saturday night Opry Live later this spring on the Opry Facebook and YouTube channels, streaming free on the Circle Now app and via Circle Country digital streaming partners.

On May 11, McCreery will return to perform at the Opry just one day after he releases his new album Rise and Fall. The first 400 ticket-holders who purchase the album in the Opry Shop that evening will gain access to an exclusive album release celebration and acoustic performance with McCreery directly following the show in the Opry House’s Studio A.

DISClaimer Single Reviews: Kameron Marlowe Brings Soulful Voice To Ballad

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Kameron Marlowe. Photo: Trea Allen.

The voices of today meet the legends of yesterday in this week’s DISClaimer. 

Country music is in good hands (throats?) with such new talents as Avery Anna, Sam Williams, Harper Grace, Kane Brown and Disc of the Day winner Kameron Marlowe.

Showing the kiddies how it’s done are Barbara Fairchild and the late Ed Bruce.  

This week’s DISCovery Award goes to Dustin Kensrue, the singer from the band Thrice. He is apparently transitioning from rock to country.

BARBARA FAIRCHILD/ “All My Cloudy Days Are Gone”
Writer: Alan Rhody; Producer: Don Williams; Label: 65South
– Prior to his death in 2017, Country Music Hall of Fame member Don Williams collaborated with ‘70s hit maker Fairchild. He both produced and sang harmony on her project, which is now seeing the light of day. The album’s title tune is a splendid two-step with a rolling rhythm track and soft strings backing her heartfelt delivery. As country as a mountain stream.

NATE SMITH/ “Bulletproof”
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Ben Johnson/Hunter Phelps; Producer: Lindsay Rimes; Label: RCA Records Label Nashville
– The “World On Fire” man returns with a rocking barroom stomper. No matter how many shots he drinks, he can’t forget her. Hence, her “memory must be bulletproof.”

HARPER GRACE/ “Break It Like A Man”
Writers: Scott Stepakoff/Alex Kline Eisberg/Harper Gruzins; Producers: Alex Kline/Cooper Bascom/Tedd T.; Label: Curb Records
– Grace spits out this country-rocker with fiery force. She wails righteously on the choruses of the fiesty, wronged-woman outing. Well worth your spins. The video debuted on CMT yesterday.

KANE BROWN/ “Fiddle In The Band”
Writers: Gabe Foust/Jordan Walker/Kane Brown/Russell Sutton; Producer: Dann Huff; Label: RCA Records Label Nashville
– A blast furnace of energy. Brown paints the town red while a scorching fiddle in the house band sizzles. A little r&b, a little honky-tonk and a whole lotta rock percussion. A wild ride.

SAM WILLIAMS/ “Carnival Heart”
Writers: Ned Houston/PJ Harding/Sam Williams; Producers: Ben Roberts/Nathan Sexton; Label: Mercury Nashville
– This was created to accompany Cirque du Soleil’s new country show “Songblazers “which will open in Nashville in July. The orchestrated track has a celestial, dreamy quality, and Williams delivers a message of pain and hope brilliantly. An epic ballad, beautifully produced and sung.

RAELYNN/ “Funny Girl”
Writers: Lauren Hungate/Racheal Davis; Producer: Tofer Brown; Label: Daisy Rae Productions
– A winsome little piece of advice for a youngster who is hurting. You’ll grow out of this and blossom into a winner, she promises in this anthem of perseverance.

ED BRUCE/ “Old Timer”
Writers: E. Bruce/J.Bruce/T.Bruce; Producers: Ed Bruce/Jeff Elliott/Mike Morgan; Label: MRT/Old Hat
– The songwriting  great, successful actor and country hit maker (14 top-20 hits in 1975-86) passed away in 2021. But Bruce left behind many guitar-vocal demos, sung in his unforgettable, resonant baritone. Producers Elliott and Morgan have fleshed some of these out with sympathetic accompaniment to create an album titled After Hours. The 16-track  collection concludes with this wistful waltz. The first verse concerns a combat vet, the second describes a retired rodeo rider and the third is about a forgotten music star. It chillingly suggests an obituary. It also proves that the creator of such classics as “Texas (When I Die),” “The Last Cowboy Song,” “The Man That Turned My Mama On,” “Everything’s a Waltz” and “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” was a songwriting master to the end.

AVERY ANNA/ “Two Sides Of The Story”
Writers: Andy Sheridan/Avery Anna/Ben Williams/David Fanning; Producer: David Fanning; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– This streaming sensation (“Make It Look Easy,” “Narcissist”) caresses this ballad of heartbreak resignation with elegance and eloquence. The CMT-nominated youngster seems to be going from strength to strength. She has a voice of gold.

KAMERON MARLOWE/ “Keepin’ The Lights On”
Writers: Kameron Marlowe/Kendell Marvel/Phil O’Donnell; Producer: Dan Huff; Label: Columbia Nashville
– The title tune of Marlowe’s upcoming sophomore album is a recollection of hard times when his hard-working parents weathered spirit-crushing storms to provide for the family. The beautifully produced ballad mixes his expressive, soulful voice up front and intimately in your ear. I have been a consistent fan of this artist for four years and am more convinced than ever that he is one of our greatest living country singers.

GRAHAM BARHAM & LAUREN WATKINS/ “Straight To My Heart”
Writers: Graham Barham/Lauren Watkins/Lydia Vaughan/Will Bundy; Producer: Will Bundy; Label: Sony Music Nashville
– Highly engaging. “Whiskey went straight to my head/Goodbye went straight to my heart.” Nicely done, from pristine vocal harmonies to propulsive production.

DUSTIN KENSRUE & CAT CLYDE/ “Death Valley Honeymoon”
Writer: Dustin Kensrue; Producer: Dustin Kensrue; Label: Vagrant Records
– This is an alt country gem, packed with retro harmonies, echoey twang and standout pedal steel guitar. Immensely cool. This is the California rock artist’s country debut, and Clyde adds an extra layer of audio authenticity. Absolutely send more. Mark your calendars: Kensrue is playing the fantastic Eastside Bowl on April 29.